Berries blamed for California man's Hepatitis A

By SHAYA TAYEFE MOHAJER and GREGORY BULL , Associated Press

Jun. 6, 20136:56 PM ET

ENCINITAS, Calif. (AP) — Geoff Soza was celebrating his 30th wedding anniversary in Yellowstone National Park when the 64-year-old man learned the hard way that his seemingly healthy breakfast habit of mixing thawed berries with Greek yogurt had exposed him to a national outbreak of hepatitis A.

Gregory Bull

Rita Soza poses for a picture in her home in Encinitas, Calif., Wednesday, June 5, 2013. Soza's husband, Geoff Soza may have exposed himself to a national outbreak of hepatitis A, possibly from his healthy morning eating habits. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Rita Soza poses for a picture in her home in Encinitas, Calif., Wednesday, June 5, 2013. Soza's husband, Geoff Soza may have exposed himself to a national outbreak of hepatitis A, possibly from his healthy morning eating habits. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

This handout image provided by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shows the label of Harris Teeter's Townsend Farms of Fairview, Ore., Organic Antioxidant Berry Blend, packaged under the Townsend Farms label at Costco and under the Harris Teeter brand at those stores. The Oregon company is recalling a frozen berry mix sold to Costco and Harris Teeter stores after the product was linked to at least 34 hepatitis A illnesses in five states. (AP/FDA)

This handout image provided by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shows the label of Townsend Farms of Fairview, Ore., Organic Antioxidant Blend, packaged under the Townsend Farms label at Costco and under the Harris Teeter brand at those stores. The Oregon company is recalling a frozen berry mix sold to Costco and Harris Teeter stores after the product was linked to at least 34 hepatitis A illnesses in five states. (AP/FDA)

This handout image provided by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shows the label of Townsend Farms of Fairview, Ore., Organic Antioxidant Blend, packaged under the Townsend Farms label at Costco and under the Harris Teeter brand at those stores. The Oregon company is recalling a frozen berry mix sold to Costco and Harris Teeter stores after the product was linked to at least 34 hepatitis A illnesses in five states. (AP/FDA)

In this May 29, 2013 handout photo provided by Rita Soza, Geoff Soza poses for a picture in front of Spasm Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Soza may have exposed himself to a national outbreak of hepatitis A, possibly from his healthy morning eating habits. (AP Photo/Rita Soza)

Luckily, such measures are rarely, if ever, necessary for hepatitis A, Rosenberg said.

Hepatitis A can be spread by the ingestion of a microscopic amount of fecal matter from an infected person, typically a food worker who hasn't washed their hands.

Symptoms include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and jaundice — a yellowing of the skin or eyes. There is no specific treatment. The ill can feel sick for weeks — or up to six months — as their body heals itself.

Healthy and health-conscious, the Sozas always inspect their foods and select organic produce. They were surprised to learn that some of the fruit from Townsend Farms of Fairview, Ore., was from outside the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control said the recalled berries included products from Argentina, Turkey and Chile, in addition to the United States.

But the packaging convinced the Sozas the fruit was all-American because it bears the slogans "Grower. Processor. Distributor." and "Field to Farm to Family, since 1906."

"It was our distinct impression that these are raised under U.S. standards, especially organic food standards," Rita Soza said.

Geoff Soza said he chose the berries to have for breakfast for about 6 months. The Sozas are fairly adventurous eaters who like to experiment with new foods. Frozen berries were the last thing he thought would make him sick.

"I would have thought it would be from fish or something like that, but not ever from fruit, especially berries," Soza said.

Rita Soza said after she learned of the berries, she was upset by Costco's response, saying she unsuccessfully tried to call the number on her membership card for information — but she couldn't get a live person on the phone. She returned home to find a message on her answering machine Tuesday.

Costco Vice President for food safety Craig Wilson said the company contacted 240,000 members with information about the outbreak and received more than 10,000 calls over the weekend.

Some of those sickened by the berries have filed lawsuits seeking medical costs and damages, and at least one suit filed in Los Angeles this week seeks class action status. The Sozas say they haven't decided to take legal action.

ENCINITAS, Calif. (AP) — Geoff Soza was celebrating his 30th wedding anniversary in Yellowstone National Park when the 64-year-old man learned the hard way that his seemingly healthy breakfast habit of mixing thawed berries with Greek yogurt had exposed him to a national outbreak of hepatitis A.